They work tirelessly all day under the harsh rays of a blazing sun, the stench of death and destruction around them. They are a team of Jewish heroes who are working around the clock with one mission: the recovery of human bodies.

The SA Friends of the Beit Halochem Zahal Disabled Veterans Organisation was established in Johannesburg in 1982, its primary goal being to help and support Zahal disabled veterans by raising funds to help them return and resume their normal lives as soon as possible.

There’s a popular weekly satirical show in Israel called Eretz Nehederet. In a recent episode, an actor playing Benny Gantz, the former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and newcomer to Israeli politics, is asked how he’s feeling.

Devotion to the cause of the State of Israel flourishes in the most unlikely places, even in societies where the Jewish presence is small to non-existent. Such is the case in Mozambique, where the work of Beth-El Associacao Crista Amigos De Israel - Mozambican Christian Friends of Israel - testifies to how much can be achieved by those inspired by their Christian faith to promote the Israeli cause, despite adverse conditions.

JNF’s unique “Blue Boy Box” now lives at King David Linksfield Pre-Primary so that children of each generation learn the importance of tzedakah (charity or welfare). It is the responsibility of Jews all over the world to build Israel, develop it and nurture it as the home of the Jewish nation

“Knowledge is Light” was our school motto when I was a child in Durban. The importance of education was made clear to us from as far back as I can remember. It wasn’t taken for granted. A good education was a privilege.

(JTA) Norwegian rapper not charged with hate speech
A Norwegian rapper who cursed Jews while performing at an event in Oslo promoting multiculturalism will not be charged with hate speech, because his words may have been criticism of Israel, prosecutors said.

Did Israeli soldiers violate international law by deliberately targeting unarmed children, journalists, health workers, and people with disabilities during the past year of violence along the Israel-Gaza border?

(JTA) After the New England Patriots beat the favoured Kansas City Chiefs to reach their third straight Super Bowl – their amazing ninth in less than 20 years – CBS sports analyst Boomer Esiason made an intriguing statement, namely that Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

We are winging our way towards Human Rights Day (21 March), the first public holiday of the year, which coincides with Purim. I can’t help but wonder about our concept of human rights and what it means, not least of all, to our government.

President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed in parliament last week that South Africa intended to downgrade its diplomatic presence in Israel. The foreign affairs bureaucracy was working “feverishly” on the matter. “The decision to downgrade the embassy in Israel is informed precisely by the violation of the rights of Palestinians and we are therefore putting pressure on Israel. But at the same time, we are saying we are willing to play a role and ensure there is peace,” said Ramaphosa.

Undeterred, and in spite of the hate-filled disparagement that spewed forth when Shashi Naidoo uttered positive comments about Israel and Jews last year, Haafizah Bhamjee penned a reasoned and sensible article on Israel and the Palestinians in the SA Jewish Report of 22 February.

With Prince William’s historic visit to Israel this week, all eyes have been trained on the Jewish capital. It may have taken 70 years, but the first official visit by a member of the British Royal family began in Israel on Monday, when William, the Duke of Cambridge, arrived in Tel Aviv.

Some 5 600 emissaries (shluchim) from Chabad-Lubavitch from all over the world gathered at the Pier 8 warehouse in Brooklyn, New York this week for the opening of their four-day annual international conference and banquet, 75 years after the arrival of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, from Europe.

One of the questions that haunts the story of Purim and moves silently through the lines of the Megillah is clear and chillingly simple: How could Jews have chosen to remain in Persian Shushan? It was so clearly an environment in which anti-Semitism was so prevalent that a genocide could be planned and almost implemented without comment by broader society.

“The greatness of our nation is that our people are great. We are a nation of heroes, of people with good and decent moral fibre who will not tolerate our country being plundered!” So said Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein in Pretoria this morning.“This is a struggle for accountability and justice,” Goldstein told the crowd (which included prominent Jewish CEOs like Adrian Gore, Stephen Koseff and Michael Katz). “This struggle is about sovereignty. The power of the people always triumphs in the end.”

SA Organisations

Limmud wins a prize for uniting Jews

Limmud, the international network of Jewish learning communities, will receive the Jerusalem Unity Prize in the Diaspora category on Unity Day, June 7, in recognition of its global success in bringing Jews together. The award will be bestowed in Jerusalem by President Reuven Rivlin.

by
OWN CORRESPONDENT | Mar 23, 2017

“We are grateful for this fabulous honour,” said Limmud global chairman, David Hoffman. “Limmud promotes Jewish unity by offering an inclusive cross-communal space for Jews of all ages and backgrounds, to meet, learn, volunteer and build community.

“Unity is about celebrating our diversity while working together to build community and create a dynamic Jewish future. This is what Limmud does.”

Founded in the United Kingdom in 1980, Limmud today has expanded to 84 communities in 44 countries on six continents. Last year Limmud’s 4 000 volunteers produced 74 Jewish learning festivals and events around the world, which drew over 40 000 people.

Limmud South Africa takes place across three cities during the month of August, drawing over 2 000 participants. It is considered one of the success stories of World Limmud.

Adina Roth, Limmud SA national chairman, said: “When Limmud SA started in 2007, we hoped to emulate the world-class conferences in England and make Limmud SA our own with a unique South African, Jewish flavour.

“However, what we did not anticipate was that the Limmud volunteer culture would develop a community of volunteers and leaders who take responsibility and communal spearhead initiatives throughout the year.

“It is very gratifying to see our Limmud volunteers assume positions in Jewish public office, become thought leaders and go on to develop other start-ups in the Jewish community and more broadly in the South African community.

“Eleven years on, we consider Limmud SA’s volunteer culture to be a greenhouse that grows and nurtures Jewish leadership in South Africa. We have become much more than an annual conference.”

Limmud board member and head of strategic development, South African David Bilchitz, says: “Today, when deep schisms separate Jews - politically, religiously, within communities and between the Diaspora and Israel - the Limmud model and message is more necessary than ever.

“Building and sustaining unity takes hard work and a constant effort to understand and bridge our differences. Owing to Limmud’s shared values, it offers a platform to explore, understand and discuss differences, emphasising common denominators and what we can learn from each other.

“It is thus a beacon of light in building the future of community through respect and accepting diverse Jewish identities.”

The Jerusalem Unity Prize and Unity Day recognise individuals, organisations, and initiatives in Israel and throughout the Jewish world, which advance mutual respect among the Jewish people.

"Limmud has shown that in an increasingly polarised world, we are strongest when
we work together,” said Limmud Chief Executive Eli Ovits. “As one people, across
Israel and the Diaspora, hand in hand with all denominations and parts of society,
unity becomes reality.”

1 Comment

1
Helmut von Schweitzer
24 Nov

Please both my wife and I were volunteers for a few years. Now living in London and involved with Limmud here. Can you please look back in your records to the year 2013 I think it was when I gave a presentation with Daniel. Do you still have the wording of the title of the talk. It was I think called Surviving Hitler, any other papers you have on tt, that was used as an introduction to me. I would really appreciate getting from you.
Thank you Regards to you all over there
Helmut von Schweitzer